Translate, Reflect, Rotate....Transformations :)

Transformations - Translate, Reflect and Rotate!! 


Probably one of my FAVORITE 8th grade concepts to teach! It is challenging, yet one of those rewarding moments (especially with rotations) when it finally clicks! I break down each transformation separately starting with translations, moving to reflections, rotations and finally dilations. We practice, practice and more practice each one before even beginning to add more than one transformation to another. I also emphasize the rules and we directly work with using those along with making sure we understand how they move and are seen in the graphs.  


I created these resources with a lot of thought! I wanted them to be useful to a variety of levels with students and be a great resource tool to reference when needed. The practices can be used multiple ways and honestly could be reused in other forms. The pre-images are already complete. Utilize them as needed with your students!


First up - NOTES! Use a bright cardstock for the front and white cardstock for the notes and examples and these will not (hopefully) get lost in the shuffle of a folder, desk or locker. 


I never can get enough of how much I love creating these interactive notes activities. I really want them to be beneficial tools for students AND teachers. I put the most important information in them without adding too much fluff. Getting down to the nitty gritty! I provide examples that help students see the steps along with the guided notes right there too. This version of notes includes a partially filled and completed version. Great to guide students through each steps or for those that may need a completed version to follow along with, one is provided.



Each problem as an 'original' problem and two problems (a and b) relating to the original to solve. Students are given the rules and they need to translate the original image (pre-image). Within the two problems to answer, I add the original figure on there, but in a transparent form. That way it isn't the main focus of the problem, but they can see the original points to translate the pre-image. Also, a great organizing sheet for students to write down the original (pre-image) coordinates, rules and new image coordinates is included! 



Hang all the problems up on a white board with magnets or around the room. Students 'grab' a problem and go back to their seats to 'solve' that problem. When they are finished, they return that problem, 'grab' another one and 'solve' the the next one. Continue that process until all problems are complete. On the answer key, students will have a transparent image, but they can not answer the problem until they find the problem that matches it. On the problems, the reflection will be given and they can complete that on the answer key. Great way to get students moving and learning!



There are 15 images that students will need to rotate. They use CCW and CW directions using 90, 180 and 270 degrees. The students will need to write down the coordinates and use the rotation rule to find the new coordinates. Students will use the new coordinates to complete the coloring portion of the activity. BONUS part, students can also draw the new rotated image! This portion is included in the answer key :) 



The BEST part of ALL of these activities; they are ALL print ready! Download, print and copy! No prep required before class starts :) Really wanting to make your extra time needed to prep, LESS. I get how many extra minutes and hours are spent outside of the normal prep and day time. Toooo many! One of my main priorities when creating resources is to SAVE you TIME


Here are some more AMAZING resources to check out from my math friends!


Transformation Mystery USA Trip
I love adding real world type scenarios into the classroom. These mystery maps from Middle School Math Man do just that! Take a trip using different transformation rules and where do you land? Students always love a little mystery, this one will be perfect for them! The bundle is linked above, but search 'Transformation Mystery Trip' and individual resources will pop up. 




Transformation Pennant
Have you tried any of the pennants from Scaffolded Math and Science? If you haven't, a must tool to try in your classroom. This activity uses all transformations within the 24 problems provided. On each pennant, there is a grid where the students can transform the image right onto. When they are all complete, a great way to display and showcase students work!


Need more tips for teaching transformations? Head on over to Free to Discover blog site and she has a GREAT write up of tips and FREEBIES




Transformation Assessment Project
Need to create an assessment?! I was about to go on maternity leave with our 3rd kiddo and my students were finishing up this concept pretty close to when it started. I prepared a project that I started and my substitute teacher finished with them. I then collected them all and graded them after lil man arrived. Super easy grading! 

I used this idea from Equation Freak, (which was originally shared from Perfect Square) and created a project based assessment. Students created their very own pre-image with stipulations that were provided. Then students took that pre-image and had to translate, reflect, rotate, dilate in one of the 4 quadrants. Along with creating that, they had to fill in all of their coordinates and make rules for each of the transformations. ALL of resources that would help the project along were provided by me. An organized table I created that helped keep all the coordinates and rules nice and neat (mainly for me to help grading go easier...) along with a nice checklist with scoring points they could follow along to make sure they were completing all aspects of the project. . BUT hopefully you can find inspiration from above like I did! My students LOVED this project, it allowed them to be creative with their drawings and show me they knew each of the transformations too! If you want more information of what I did, please feel free to email me at kholland2007@gmail.com and I can share :) 


Coming SOON - Dilations! What type of activity would you like to see with them? Comment below :) 


Happy Teaching! 


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